Ranking the Japanese Single Seat Fighters

[DoBravery]

I'm not sure if this has been covered. It seems like a straight-forward topic, but I figured I might learn something new about these planes by posting a ranking.(Don't we just love ranking)

I based my ranking on what plane I'd climb into before a battle.

1. Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank)
2. Kawanishi N1K1-2 Shiden (George)
3. Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Tojo) I'm not sure if the J2M2 should be 3.
4. Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden (Jack)
5. Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Tony)
6. Kawasaki Ki-100 (A Ki-61 with a radial)
7. Mitsubishi A6M1-8 Zero
8. Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar)
9. Nakajima Ki-27 (Nate)
10. Mitsubishi A5M1-4 (Claude)

What do you all think? If I missed anything let me know. The Japanese had some FASCINATING aircraft prototypes and machines that just didn't make it into the war. (J8M1 Shusui, A7M1 Reppu, Ki-87, Kikka, Kyushu J7W1 Shinden) I tried to leave those out, but if someone wants to throw those in, be my guest.

I'm not too familiar with Japanese twin-engined single seaters other than prototypes.(Ki-83, Ki-108) If there is one, where should it be ranked?

What I love about Japanese fighter planes is the diversity. It's almost a what's your flavor sort of selection.

[i16stealth]

Though I'm not too skilled in Japanese fighters, I think that fourth place is too good for Raiden (it did well against bombers, but not against fighters). Also, are you sure that Ki-100 is worse than Ki-61?

[Ricky]

broadly agree, but mine would be more:

1. Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank)
2. Kawasaki Ki-100 (A Ki-61 with a radial)
3. Kawanishi N1K1-2 Shiden (George)
4. Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Tojo) I'm not sure if the J2M2 should be 3.
5. Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden (Jack)
6. Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Tony)
7. Mitsubishi A6M1-8 Zero
8. Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar)
9. Nakajima Ki-27 (Nate)
10. Mitsubishi A5M1-4 (Claude)

And the 1 & 2 positions are an effective tie.

[simon]

What was the the A6M1-8? AFAIK only a small number of A6M1s were made before production switched to the A6M2 (Arguably the definitive Zero).

[DoBravery]

quote:Originally posted by i16stealth

Though I'm not too skilled in Japanese fighters, I think that fourth place is too good for Raiden (it did well against bombers, but not against fighters). Also, are you sure that Ki-100 is worse than Ki-61?


That's a great question. The last of the Ki-61's with the Ha-140 liquid cooled engines had 1,500 peak HP. When engine shortages forced a conversion to the Ha-112 radial (also 1,500HP), I don't know if there were any compromises or unforseen benefits. Armament was unchanged, but I believe the Ki-100 could climb faster.

[DoBravery]

quote:Originally posted by simon

What was the the A6M1-8? AFAIK only a small number of A6M1s were made before production switched to the A6M2 (Arguably the definitive Zero).

Sorry, I meant it as [A6M1. . . . A6M8]. Same with Claude.

A6M5 3x 13.2mm and 2x 20mm
A6M6 Water-Menthol injection, self-sealing wing tanks
A6M7 Combined attributes of 5 and 6 plus a bomb rack.
A6M8 (prototype) bigger engine, fuselage guns deleted.

[GregP]

I'd put the Ki-100 first and the Ki84 second.

The Ki-100 had NO vices while the Ki-84 had some structural weakness above 400 mph.

For the J2M2, itr would depend on whether or not the mount I was going to fly was a GOOD example or not. If it had a good engine, I'd put it third. If the engine was average or worse, I'd go for the Ki-44 third.

As you can tell, except for the Ki-100, my top half is your top half, I just changed the order and selected the Ki-100 first. It was superb.

[Romantic Technofreak]

My choose:

1. Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate
2. Kawasaki Ki-100 (Greg has the better arguments, but I have a personal preference for the Ki-84)
3. Kawanishi N1K1-2 Shiden
4. Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (in my eyes this inline engine concept had design development chances, the two following radial ones didn´t have)
5. Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Troubles were conceptual, not structural in the J2M2)
6. Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden
7. Mitsubishi A6M1-8 Zero
8. Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (looses for the weaker weaponry to the Zero)
9. Nakajima Ki-27 (early war designs nearly always fall behind. The Spitfire is the only exception)
10. Mitsubishi A5M1-4

Regards, RT